The 2025 Grand National takes place at Aintree this weekend, with I Am Maximus seeking to defend the crown he won 12 months ago for the prolific duo of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
Mullins has already made a flying start to the meeting, winning all four Grade 1s on Thursday’s opening day, and the Closutton king has five of the 34 runners in Saturday’s showpiece.
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However, this year’s renewal looks a typically wide open affair and cases can be made for at least half of the field, as our runners and riders guide attests.
Our top tipster Johnny Ward has also provided his selections for the world’s most famous steeplechase, but here are three more horses to consider for your shortlist.
Vanillier
Gavin Cromwell is enjoying a superb season and despite deciding against running his Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin - who had been the firm ante-post favourite - still comes here with an extremely strong hand.
Stumptown, the Irishman’s other Festival winner at Cheltenham last month, is the most popular of three Cromwell runners in the market, while Perceval Legallois has been well-supported over the last fortnight, but Vanillier looks to have a huge chance.
Second to Coach Rambler in this race two years ago, the grey endured a disappointing campaign last term but has been revitalised since going over cross-country fences.
A hugely impressive winner at Punchestown at the start of February, the ten-year-old rallied to finish a remarkable third at Cheltenham after almost taking the wrong course early in the race.
Intense Raffles
Home-bred by owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the six-year-old was immediately installed as favourite following news of Inothewayurthinkin’s defection last month and while others have surpassed him at the head of the market since, he retains leading claims.
Ran up a hat-trick of victories at Fairyhouse as a novice last season, culminating in Irish National success in April and appears to have been trained for this race ever since.
Eased along in handicap company either side of Christmas before running second to Nick Rockett back at Fairyhouse last time out, with another National contender fourth in Minella Cocooner. That could prove a key form line and comes in far better off at the weights against that conqueror.
Kandoo Kid
A sad indictment of last year’s home challenge was the fact that 14-time British champion trainer Paul Nicholls did not have a single runner.
This time around, though, the Ditcheat master comes mob-handed, with five runners and what he has described as his best ever National squad. Another grey, Kandoo Kid, is the yard’s leading hope and choice of stable jockey Harry Cobden.
Improved significantly for being sent chasing last season and finished his novice campaign with a credible third over the National fences in the Topham.
Has continued to go the right way this term, landing the prestigious Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November.
Could only finish eighth, beaten 20 lengths, in prep run over an inadequate trip at the same track last month which is a slight concern, but Nicholls is adamant that display will have no bearing on events this weekend.
